Skip to content

Drug interactions

Insulin detemir + Olanzapine

Severity: Moderate

Insulin detemir and Olanzapine: moderate interaction.

Last updated

For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.

Summary

Olanzapine can raise glucose and cause insulin resistance, which may blunt the effect of insulin detemir. Glycemic control may deteriorate and insulin requirements may increase.

What this interaction means in plain words

Insulin detemir and Olanzapine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.

Insulin detemir belongs to Endocrine; Olanzapine belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: High

Why it happens

Olanzapine induces insulin resistance and weight gain, opposing insulin action.

What to do

Monitor glucose closely after starting or changing olanzapine and adjust insulin detemir dose accordingly. Review HbA1c and weight regularly.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Should I take them at different times of day?
  • Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
  • Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Insulin detemir and Olanzapine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.

  • Full clinical management advice
  • Additional notes
  • Evidence detail
  • Interaction checker for a whole prescription

Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Insulin detemir with Olanzapine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin detemir and Olanzapine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Olanzapine can raise glucose and cause insulin resistance, which may blunt the effect of insulin detemir. Glycemic control may deteriorate and insulin requirements may increase.

How serious is the interaction between Insulin detemir and Olanzapine?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor glucose closely after starting or changing olanzapine and adjust insulin detemir dose accordingly. Review HbA1c and weight regularly.

What other medicines interact with Olanzapine?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Olanzapine with, for example, Amisulpride, Amoxapine, Apomorphine. The full list is on the Olanzapine page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in